Good news: The Second Coming has Arrived!!

Bad News: It's a Big Lizard!!

According to a report noted in Evolving in Kansas, Komodo Dragons have been hatched in Sedgwick County without fertilization by a male.

There are two of them, both males. (Isn't that interesting?) ...

I think they should name them Jesus and Brian.

More like this

I thought that parthenogenesis always produced female offspring because the they would have inherited both x chromosomes from the mother.

Not all animals use the mammalian XX (female) XY (male) or the birds ZZ (male) and ZW (female)) to distinguish the sexes. I believe some reptiles use incubation temperature though others use chromosomes.

See
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v451/n7178/full/451527a.html
for some info

Note that in bees fertilized eggs become females (either queens or workers depending on diet) while unfertilized eggs become males (drones).

Biblical based exemptionalism sure is taking a beating.

By Gene Goldring (not verified) on 09 Feb 2008 #permalink

Reptiles' sex determination is based on the temperature of incubation of the egg.

Interesting! Now that you say it, it seems like I've heard that somewhere before.

I guess it would be possible for the zoo to determine the results by changing the temperature.